Every X-Wing Squadron In Star Wars Canon Explained | Screen Rant
From the climactic Battle of Yavin to the Resistance’s ultimate victory at Exegol, X-Wing squadrons have been a vital part of the Star Wars saga and canon non-movie material. The T-65B X-Wing was introduced to the Rebellion shortly before the Galactic Civil War began, and it quickly became their most versatile and effective fighter craft. This iconic starfighter was used by the New Republic as well but was eventually replaced by the more advanced T-70 and the superlative T-85.
The T-65B was the signature craft of the Rebel Alliance Starfighter Corps, while the T-85 became the preferred fighter of the New Republic in its final years. The Resistance was unable to acquire a significant number of T-85 X-Wings, predominantly using the T-70 instead. X-Wing fighters owe their origins to the Clone Wars-era ARC-170 and Z-95 starfighters, used to great effect by clone pilots.
While the Rebel, New Republic, and Resistance Starfighter Corps had numerous squadrons, not all of them were specifically X-Wing squadrons. The films and canon non-movie material have several squadrons that predominantly (or exclusively) use their respective X-Wing models.
Red Squadron famously participated in the Battles of Scarif and Yavin, the latter of which saw Luke Skywalker joining their ranks and destroying the first Death Star. Within the next year, Red Squadron was reformed into Rogue Squadron, but the group returned to its original name after the Battle of Hoth, remaining Red Squadron during the Rebellion’s victory at the Battle of Endor.
Formed by Wedge Antilles and Luke Skywalker after the Battle of Yavin, Rogue Squadron was named after the Rebel spies of Rogue One, who sacrificed themselves to obtain the Death Star plans. Rogue Squadron was devastated during the Rebellion’s defeat on Hoth, and the remnants were renamed Red Squadron. The group became Rogue Squadron once more after the Battle of Endor, serving the New Republic and being led by Wedge Antilles, as shown in Star Wars: Squadrons. Rogue Squadron will presumably be the focus of the upcoming film Rogue Squadron.
Led by General Antoc Merrick, Blue Squadron famously fought in the Battle of Scarif, as shown in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Blue Squadron suffered numerous casualties during the battle, including General Merrick, but they were nevertheless invaluable to the Rebellion, helping them secure the Death Star plans. Unfortunately, their severe losses prevented them from participating in the Battle of Yavin, but the squadron flew in the battles of Hoth and Endor, proving once against to be among the Rebellion’s best groups.
The starfighter squadron of Saw Gerrera's Rebel cell known as the Partisans, the Cavern Angels flew X-Wings with distinctive black and white paint jobs, striking at Imperial forces on Jedha. The Partisans were extremely underfunded and poorly-equipped, and thus the Cavern Angels consisted of six X-Wings, and only two were in working condition at any given time. Like the rest of the Partisans, the Cavern Angels fought relentlessly, making up for a lack of proper gear.
The Rebellion’s Yellow Squadron famously attacked Darth Vader himself during the Battle of Vrogas Vas. Unfortunately, the entire squadron was wiped out by the Sith Lord in his customized TIE Advanced X1. Yellow Squadron was later reformed and participated in the Battle of Endor, where half of the group’s pilots perished, according to the first issue of Star Wars: Shattered Empire. Like the Rebellion itself, Yellow Squadron’s heavy losses weren’t in vain.
With numerous mentions throughout canon non-movie material, Corona Squadron’s only appearance is in Lost Stars. Corona Squadron was a particularly successful Rebel starfighter group, receiving high praise for their participation in the Battle of Hoth, protecting their wingmen in the Battle of Endor, and serving the New Republic at the Battle of Jakku. Corona Squadron even assisted the Resistance before they existed by scouting the planet D'Qar as a potential base.
Serving both the Rebellion and the New Republic, Echo Squadron only briefly appeared in Squadrons, fighting in the Battle at Fostar Haven. The group suffered two casualties, but the battle was nevertheless a Rebel victory. Like the Rebellion’s Echo Base, Echo Squadron might have been named after the famous Clone Trooper, Echo.
Appearing in both Shattered Empire and Star Wars Battlefront II, Danger Squadron engaged Imperial forces in orbit of Naboo within a year after the Battle of Endor. Danger Squadron was led by Shriv Suurgav and joined by Imperial defectors Iden Version and Del Meeko. The squadron helped save Naboo from having its endowment destroyed by the Empire during Operation Cinder.
Meteor Squadron was a New Republic fighter group, appearing in the novels Alphabet Squadron and Shadow Fall. Although they’re never physically depicted, the squadron’s X-Wings were adorned with unique meteor paintings. Meteor Squadron backed up Alphabet and Hail Squadrons in the year following the Battle of Endor. The squadron was, unfortunately, completely wiped out at the Battle of Catadra, but was reformed later, as it was mentioned in Star Wars: Squadrons.
Formed within a year after the Battle of Endor by Wedge Antilles, Phantom Squadron was one of the New Republic’s first X-Wing Squadrons. The group participated in the Liberation of Kashyyyk and the Battle of Jakku, which concluded with the Galactic Empire’s formal surrender to the New Republic. The squadron notably included future Resistance pilot Snap Wexley and joined the Resistance in the climactic Battle of Exegol, which saw the final death of Palpatine.
An elite New Republic X-Wing group, Rapier Squadron used state-of-the-art T-85 X-Wings and was led by Poe Dameron during his time in the New Republic Starfighter Corps. The group’s X-Wings were adorned with blue and grey paint, and participated in numerous skirmishes with First Order starfighters, as shown in several canon comics and novels, such as Before the Awakening and Age of Resistance - Poe Dameron.
A ceremonial X-Wing squadron within the New Republic, the precision air team performed air shows for New Republic citizens during peacetime. Following the Galactic Empire’s fall, Snap Wexley flew for this squadron, keeping his piloting skills sharp. When the looming threat of fascism returned, thanks to the First Order, the majority of the squadron joined the Resistance to stop their spread. It’s unknown what X-Wing model the team used, but the squadron was presumably destroyed along with the Hosnian System by the First Order’s Starkiller Base.
Founded by the famous Resistance pilot Poe Dameron, Black Squadron was an elite squadron within the Resistance Starfighter Corps. With the New Republic unable to spare their cutting-edge T-85s, the Resistance made do with the highly effective T-70 X-Wings. Although the squadron itself doesn’t appear in the sequel trilogy films, Poe Dameron flies using the Black Leader callsign, taking command of other squadrons. Black Squadron appears prominently in the Poe Dameron comics, however.
Featured throughout Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Blue Squadron flew for the Resistance, predominantly using T-70 X-Wings. Blue Squadron engaged First Order forces on Takodana, Starkiller Base, and D’Qar. Most of Blue Squadron was wiped out by Kylo Ren when he attacked the Raddus’ hangar bay, where most of the squadron was based. The veteran Resistance pilots Snap Wexley and Jess Pava, both former Black Squadron members, also flew within Blue Squadron.
Another Resistance X-Wing Squadron, Red Squadron’s T-70s, like most Resistance X-Wings, were painted with blue trim (regardless of their squadron designation). Red Squadron flew alongside Blue Squadron and under the command of Poe Dameron in The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Red Squadron notably included the famous Nien Numb, once a member of the Rebellion and a veteran of the Battle of Endor.
Let by Venisa Doza, Jade Squadron was a particularly effective Resistance X-Wing Squadron. As shown in Star Wars Resistance, Jade Squadron fought against the First Order on Dantooine and Castilon. In both conflicts, Jade Squadron destroyed numerous First Order craft, including a Star Destroyer, without any losses of their own.
With the Resistance nearly destroyed after the Battle of Crait, Dross Squadron was tasked with helping rebuild their Starfighter Corps. Shriv Suurgav, who served the Rebellion, New Republic, and Resistance, led the group to Bracca, where they retrieved various X-Wing models, including a T-85, which had become extremely rare since the destruction of the Hosnian System. With their help, the Resistance began rebuilding their X-Wing Squadrons, which engaged the Final Order on Exegol at the end of the Star Wars saga.